Welcome! This is an unapologetic, agenda-free zone. Just commentaries on current events that’ll move you to think, laugh, rage, and even cry.
Day 13 (August 21) Softball The US losing in softball at these Olympic Games was almost as shocking as the US losing in basketball at the Athens Games in 2004. After all, since winning gold at the Sydney Games in 2000, the US (women’s) softball team had won 22 straight international tournaments – “most of… Read more.
Day 11 (August 19) Gymnastics The Chinese returned to their dominant form by winning both the Men’s Parallel Bars and Men’s Horizontal Bar. In fact, the only thing noteworthy about these last two events in men’s gymnastics is that Jonathan Horton of the US ended his team’s shutout in the individual event finals by winning… Read more.
Day 9 (August 17) Gymnastics Not surprisingly, the Chinese men continued their dominance with different teammates winning the event finals in Pommel Horse and Floor Exercise. The more interesting results, however, came in the women’s event finals. Alas, Alicia Sacrimone– who nearly torpedoed the US’s chance of winning any medal in the team competition – was denied personal redemption. … Read more.
The greatest Olympic athlete of all time! With his team’s relatively easy win today in the Men’s 4×100 Medley Relay, US swimmer Michael Phelps completed his Phelpsian quest to win 8 gold medals in one Olympic Games. He has now surpassed the formidable standard set by Mark Spitz at the Munich Games in 1972 of winning 7 gold medals. Congratulations Michael!!! Related… Read more.
Day 8 (August 16) Swimming You know the story by now: Michael Phelps on course to emulate Mark Spitz by winning eight gold medals in swimming at one Olympic Games. Well, after the way he won his second gold medal (with the improbable come-from-behind swim by teammate Jason Lezak on the last leg of the Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay),… Read more.
Is it just me or are you also wondering why, with over 1 billion people at their beck and call, China’s totalitarian leaders have not ensured that all venues are always packed with spectators? Frankly, I find it more than a little difficult to reconcile all the Chinese hype about these Olympic Games being such a source… Read more.
Over the next 16 days, Olympic competition will be held in 34 sports, including the wholly anachronistic sports of badminton and fencing. And I’m sure all of them will be fun to watch. Moreover, with network TV and internet coverage, it will be possible to watch all events for the first time in Olympic history. Nevertheless,… Read more.
